Thompson tames Oake Manor with new course record

Lee Thompson shot a sensational ten-under par record 60 to take a three-shot first round lead in the 36-holeTotal Triumph Classic at Oake Manor.

The Dudsbury touring professional bettered the previous mark by two shots and expressed great surprise at his form.

He said: “I wasn’t expecting much as I haven’t played a lot this summer, but I hit the ball close and the putter worked. I am not thinking about winning because there were a lot of good scores today and someone can come from the back and post a really low total.”

His late round with two halves of 30 on a marathon 14-hour day that finished just before 10pm included six birdies in the initial ten holes. Eagles at the par fives 15^th and 17^th were the key.

Ashley Mansell had made the perfect start to the defence of his Order of Merit title with a 63. The Clevedon assistant made four birdies by the eighth hole to set up an adventurous home trip. A bogey at the 13^th, an eagle at the 15^th followed by another dropped shot then a final birdie completed a satisfying day.

Last year he lost a three-way play-off at Oake before winning the West Region Championship at Burnham and Berrow for his first OOM success.

He was later joined by another bright young player Neath’s Craig Melding who won the South Wales Order of Merit last winter.

Melding picked up four shots on the three par fives making an eagle at the 15th and started with four of his five birdies in an opening nine of 31.

And, in the gathering gloom, former European Tour winner John Bickerton (Minehead) joined them. He landed eight birdies and shed one shot.

Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre), Toby Hunt (St Mellons) and Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) signed for 64 to move into close contention.

Watson’s back nine of 29 was the best of the day containing an eagle at 15 and four birdies. Hunt, winner at Cotswold Hills the previous day, did not drop a shot again. O’Hanlon made eight birdies, the most on the day.

Former European Tour and PGA Cup player Richard Dinsdale (Asbri Golf) took an early lead  after carding the day’s best opening nine of five-under-par 31 yet is two shots behind.

Dan Carter (Upavon) made seven birdies but faltered after a double bogey at the par three14^th. He was joined on 65 by course specialist David Dixon (Enmore Park)  

Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) finished on 66 as he attempts to win his third Triumph title in four years. So did last year’s winner Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) after making five birdies, an eagle at 15 and dropping three shots.

OOM debutant Matthew Turner who has recently joined the host club as a PGA trainee contributed six birdies and did not drop a shot after a double bogey at the first. James Hannam (Bath) , William Nolan Farley (Bovey Castle)  and Adam Frayne (Yelverton) also shot 66.